SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:39-46
Jesus goes into the garden of Gethsemane, and is tempted.
The disciples are with Jesus, and they are tempted.
Adam and Eve were in the garden, and they were tempted.
You and I are somewhere in God’s garden every day, and we are tempted.
Whatever form Satan takes, he whispers distractions, doubts and deceptions into our minds.
Every day we face choices between God’s way, and other ways.
If we resist the other ways, and aim for God’s way, the battle can get fierce.
We are not alone, God is with us, Jesus stands by us, angels strengthen us.
But we must pray, we must work, we must choose, we must battle, we must stand firm!
“Not my way but God’s way!”
What will the battles be for me today?
Will I refuse Satan’s whispers (as tough as that can be), or will I give in?
I need to pray, I need to battle, I need to stand firm, I need to choose God’s way!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for showing me that victory is possible, with Your help. Help me to see my garden temptations today, and to resist them with all Your might!
Observation/Application
Prayer.
A basic ingredient of the Christian walk.
Jesus went out as usual. Pray. Jesus knew what was coming for His followers and the difficulties they would have. He also knew their own struggles wanting to be the greatest. Pray is the basic ingredient when facing decisions or basic life issues and huge problems. Never walk alone but walk with the risen Saviour. Put your hand in the Master’s hand and He will lead and guide and supply your needs. He did it for Christ Jesus and He will do it for you and me. Sleep provides no rescue but prayer will.
The Christian walk of Word and Deed is made a possibility only through daily walking and talking with God.
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
That reach The Majesty on high.
Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.
No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.
O Thou by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.